Australia's Nexport enters deal with Splend to supply 3000 BYD electric vehicles from 2022 [updated]

The BYD Han will form part of Nexport’s Australian line-up in 2022. Images: BYD

[updated] Speaking with Luke Todd, CEO of Nexport and TrueGreen this afternoon, he confirmed to EV Brief that of the 3,000 BYD units in the MOU, 2,000 would be making their way to Australia. This is a significant figure, given around 5,000 battery electric vehicles were sold in Australia in 2020. He also confirmed on-demand drivers would be trained and educated in the BYD model range to provide demonstration drives to potential customers.

We're hoping to speak with Todd this week on the podcast, covering all things BYD.

Following the signing of a historic distribution agreement to allow Nexport to sell right-hand-drive BYD vehicles globally, Nexport has announced its own historic deal — a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Splend — to purchase 3,000 BYD electric vehicles.

We hadn’t heard of Splend until this media release hit our inbox, but the Australian and United Kingdom-based company provides flexible vehicle subscription and ownership plans specifically for rideshare and delivery drivers on platforms such as Uber, DiDi and AmazonFlex. Splend provides rental or rent-to-own plans for drivers, inclusive of servicing and maintenence, roadside assistance and driver training.

The MOU between Nexport and Splend will see the 3,000 BYD vehicles delivered across the UK and Australia from early 2022; in addition, it also includes a deal that will see Splend provide demonstrator vehicles for new BYD buyers, as part of Nexports direct to consumer sales model through EV Direct.

As commuters are slow to return to public transport in COVID-19 affected areas, demand for rideshare services across the globe is increasing, and the electrification of these trips is key to reducing emissions in our cities. reducing costs and improving profits and reliability for drivers.

Splend is already advertising that they will be offering electric vehicle options soon for drivers, and Uber will be reducing their commission by 50% for every EV ride until 30 June 2022.

At the time of publishing, we don’t have a figure on the proportion of units allocated to Australia and the UK, but will update this article with a comment from Nexport when we can.

Source: Nexport

First Look: Joby Aviation's electric VTOL taxi takes flight

Joby Aviation positions itself as premier air taxi start-up after successful flight trials and solid backing

Air taxis were all the rage in 2020, with Uber Elevate promising an operational air taxi trial in 2020. Even the Australian media lapped it up, but, quelle surprise, the concept died a quiet death. Clearly, Uber realised that the company’s focus should likely focus on profitability from its ride-share app.

Enter Joby Aviation, based in Santa Cruz, California. Founder and CEO JoBen Bevirt likes to fly under the radar, but is known for selling his previous company Velocity11, which is a leader in liquid-handling robots and lab automation.

Joby Aviation is likely on the cusp of purchasing Uber Elevate according to Axios, and their as-yet-unnamed aircraft is set to be the world’s first certified and operational electric airborne taxi thanks to some serious financial backing, and manufacturing support from Toyota.

Joby Aviation’s eVTOL taxi. Images: Joby Aviation

Joby Aviation has agreed on certification terms with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and has received close to US$1 billion in funding from Toyota, Laurene Powell Jobs’ Emerson Collective and Capricorn Investment Group.

Joby has released the below videos to increase investor hype as it prepares to go public on the New York Stock Exchange with Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) Reinvent Technology Partners. The combined company will have a pro forma implied valuation of US$6.6 billion.

Six rotors and a 240 kilometre range.

The silent aircraft features five-seats, and can reach 322 km/h (200 mph) and travel 240 kilometres (150 miles using current battery technology) With six large tilting rotors to achieve vertical lift and horizontal winged cruise, its design has won praise from many aviation experts, and could genuinely revolutionise the way many people commute and travel. The reliability and simplicity of battery electric systems and electric motors will mean that manufacturing and maintenance costs will be low, and the silent flight would allow the Joby aircraft to operate in airspace helicopters can only dream about.

Bevirt hopes that rides will eventually cost the same as an Uber X, around US$2.50 per mile. Morgan Stanley estimates the air-transport category could generate $674 billion a year in fares worldwide by 2040, and Joby is planning to be ready, with construction beginning on a 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, designed in conjunction with Toyota, later in 2021.